Can-capping machine



Aug. 19 1924.

S. B. FIELD CAN CAPPING- MACHINE Filed Ma 29, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet .1 I c. 1 07 5am ale/B Field Aug. 19, 1924. 1,505,631

.S. B. FIELD CAN CAPPING MACHINE Filed'May 29, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 19 1924. 1505531 5. B. FIELD CAN CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1920 6-Sheets-Sheet 5 I'm/cantor,

Aug. 19, 1924. 1,505,631 s. B. FIELD CAN CAPPTNG MACH INE Filed May 29 .1920

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

warren isreriss raiser creme.

raster SAMUEL 13. FIELD, or :aotizsooir, nassacniisnrrs, vassleirtois, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO sateen racer cor/nann coaroaarron or massa- CHUSETTS.

CAI-T-CAFPIN Gr BIAGHINE.

Application filed may 29, 1920. SerialNo. 385,245." l

To all Q/1077), it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B FrnLo, citizen of the United States. residing at l-lolbroolr, county of Norfolk, Commonwealth of li'ltlFfl zltfllllSettfi, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Can- Uapping Machines, of which the following is a specification. T i

Th s invention relates to can capping machines and particularly to a machine for placing the cap or upper end ona filled conlainer. AS illustrative of my invention I shall show and herein specifically describe a. machine especially adapted for lodging a metallic top on a fibre or metal conainer body for the purpose of completingthe package. While my invention is not to, be construed as limited to the particular container or type otc'ontainer or top or cover ll nevertheless find it'convenient to refer rather specifically to this type of container and cover inasmuch as it well illustrates the advantages of my invention and'at the same time constitutes a practical. and useful embodiment. well adapted to fill a very considerable demand in the trade in which this type of container is employed.

The drawings herewith are therefore to be understood as illustrative in so far as the broader "Features ot my invention are concerned, while also involving many practical details of more specific nature. draiication like reference characters employed to indicate corresponding parts. In the drawings 1 Fig. I is a side elevation of such a chine in. accordance with my invention.

Fig". U is an end elevation partly insec- 'ion viewed from the right oi :l; i

Ill a detailed fragmentary plan view showing the can separatingmechm nism.

Fig. IV is a similar view of the top separating mechanism.

Fig. V a side elevation partly the cover or lid carrier in lid position.

Fig. V1 is a similar view in lid delivering position. I I

Fig. VII is a side view of the 'lid applying mechanism.

VIII is a view of can-and lid in position of initial assembly.

DUI"

in. section receiving with the. parts In these wings as well throughout the speciliig. IX-is a plan view of the c0ver..placing die,

Figs. X and XI are diagrammaticviews showing successive stages in the transfer of the cans through the machine,

Fig. XII is a partial plan view [of my machine, and Fig. XIII is a detail view of the cover delivery mechanism.

My machine consists of a base 1, on which a bed 2 is supported-by vertical frame pieces 3. Across the upper part of the machine is an archedptraniie or, bridge at extending longltudinally of the machine. The main power shaft, driven from any suitable source, is indicated. at 5 and has a hand wheel 6; The shaft5 has a pinion 7 meshing with a gear 8 on a counter shaft 9. From the counter-shaft 9 a' longitudinalshaft10 is driven by a, pair of bevel pinions 11. The shaft 10 has a spur gear 10 thereon which meshes with a similar gear on a stub shaft 1O (immediately behind the shaft 10 in Fig". 1). The stub shaft- 10. through a pair oi bevel pinions 12 drives a vertical shaft 13at the intake end of the machines The shaft 13 is splined within a hollow shaft 1 which carries a camlo for operating the. lid carrier. as ,will appez hereinafter. The shaft ltis mounted'in a braclretlfi which terms, part of ahead 17 which is vertically adinstable by a screw 18 in a slideway 19. Shoeblc longitudinal along the bed 52 is a crosshead 20. 011 each side of the cross-head heads Qtwhioh areprovided with transverse ways in which slide can die-carriers retained in said ways by gibs 23.

To the heads 24 ofthe'slides or die-carriers are attached 'upperand lower can embracing plates or dies Between the specedhc'adsQl lies the can way which.

re fed to the way 30 by an endless conveyor coiled about a stem 57. the spring 56 bears on the upper end of the cal bracket 20.

is mounted on the slidable crosshead 20 it will be seen that the heads 21 each support a vertical bracket 26 which is slotted at 2'? to adjust-ablyreceive the horizontal pivot 28 of the cover dies 40. The general structure of the dies 40 is detailed in Figs. VI, VIIand IX. The dies 40 consist of duplicate members having recess-defining portions 41 which are normally open to receive the cap and are adapted to be closed by the operation of the can embracing plates or can dies 25 to clamp the cap therein. The cap dies are maintained in alinem cut by sliding plates 41 which interlock each with its die when the dies are brought together. Fast to the undertace of the cap dies is a cap-retain ing plate 41" having a can-receiving opening therein of slightly smaller diameter than the cap-receiving opening'of-the cap dies and through which the can is adapted to extend to receive the cap. The edges of said. canreceiving opening are beveled to guide the can thereinto, and the plate retains the cap within the cap dies. 0

On the other side of its pivot each die 40 is provided with a stop arm 43 adapted to contact with anadjustable screw 44 to arrest the die in its down position. In its up ward position an adjustable screw stop 45 is disposed to contact with the die 40 to determine its correct angular position when the slide is to the left and the die is receiving the cap from the cap delivery as shown in Fig. VI. The die ca-rries on its upper face a socketed block 47 covered by a plate 48 within which a ball 49 has bearing. lhe ball 49 is on the end of a stem 50 which is shouldered at 51 to give backing to the spring 52. This spring is contained within a-case 53, the inner end of which. is closed by a cap 54. This cup-shaped sleeve slidable within a link 55, being held in downward position by a spring 56 which is The lower end of cup'53 and the upper QnClOil'lSfllCl springis received in an adjustable cup 58 which is tapped into the axial. bore of the link and is provided with a hexagon end 59 whereby it may be conveniently adjusted.

-The upper end of the stein 57 is provided -with an adjustable stop 60 working within anopening 61. The link 55-is also open at to expose the hexagon. end 59 of the cup .58. At its upper end the link is pivoted at .62 to abracket- 63 formed on a plate 64.

The plate is adjustable in ways 65 by a screw 66' having a hand wheel 67. This adjustment by the hand wheel permits the regulation of the link 55 whenever the pivots of the dies 40 need to be adjusted in the verti- This adjustmei'it is made where the machine is to be set for cans of a different height from those on which it has been operatin Extending from one of the brackets 26 is a longitudinally disposed rod 70 having de pending clamps within which is fastened a. pair of horizontally extending fingers 71 set between the ends of the rod and a single horizontally extending finger '72v which appears adjacent the left end of the rod in Fig. I. V The rod 70 and the fingers 71 and 72 constitute a step by step can feed through the machine. A. can C delivered to the point C shown inFig. 1 by the conveyor 31 is picked up by the finger 72 and moved to the position occupied by the can C In this position it is picked up by the fingers 71' and moved to the position indicated by the can C3. In'this position the can is initially engaged by the can dies 25 and moved to the position C at which point the cap or 1 top is finally lodged in place. in thisposition the can is abandoned by the can dies 25 upon the retreat of the heads 23 but is "picked up by the finger e and moved out to the position C from which it is crowded by succeeding cans until 1t is pushed on to the endless apron 36 and thus carried away i from the machine.

The particular can separating or escapment mechanism for controlling theieed ot the cans C along, the conveyor 31 and for insuring that a can will always be in posi tion to be picked up by the finger '72 is detailed in Fig. III. This mechanism consists of a pair of escapement fingers 400 and 420 disposed one in advance of the other transversely of the conveyor for operation by the vertical cam shaft 14. Fast on said shaft is a cam 401 adapted to contact the roll-provided end 401 of a lever 402 which is pivoted at 403 and is under spring control as indicated at 404. Fast to the lever 402 is a pair of links 405, 409. The link 405 is adljustably connected by the coupling 4O with a link 414 to which the escapement finger 420 is attached. The link 409 is loosely guided in a pair of spaced couplings 423, 424 between which is a spring 421, confined about said link. The spring a outs the coupling 423 at one end and at its opposite end bears against. a collar421 fast on the link 409. Fast to the couplings 423, 424 is a link 406 which is connected to one end of a rocker 410 pivoted between its ends at 411, and connected at its other end to a link 412. The link 412 is adjustably ccunected by a link 413 to the escapement finger 400. p p

In the position of the parts illustrated in Fig. 111. the finger 400' is represented as advanced in the path of the cans, andthe finger 420 is withdrawn to allow the can ii a the finger 420 advanced into the can path.

In the event of a can being improperly placed, the light spring 421 will yield it the can were in. position to prevent advance of the finger 400, and the heavy spring 404 will yield it the can were in position to prevent advance of the finger 420, thus preventing jamming of the mechanism. p

The tops of the cans are brought to the machine on an endless conveyor set at an incline where they are separated by one or the other of a pair of fingers 81-82 which are operated by an escapement for the details of which reference may be had to Fig. IV.

The finger 81 is continuously operated by a cam 88 on the upper end of the hollow shaft 14. The cam 83 works a lever 84 pivoted at 85 and normally held down by a spring 86. The lever 84 is connected by a pair of wire links 87 and 88 to the finger81, and the two links being adjustably connected by a coupling 89. The finger 81 is therefore continuously operated so that the conveyor 80 will always have a cap in position against the finger 82.

In accordance with my invention the cap is only to be supplied in case its corresponding can is progressing properly through the machine to meet it. 2 against the stop 82 will be placed upon a can in the position of the can C shown in Fig. I. I therefore operate my cover release by the can itself in its movement to the position occupied by the can in the drawing. This operation is eiiectedby a lever disposed across the path of the can and just beneath the guide rails 'which parallel the supporting way 30. The leverj1'00 is pivoted at 101 and normally held across the way by a spring 102. At its opposite end the spring 102 is connected by a link 103 to an arm 104 on the vertical shaft 105. This vertical shaft runs up at the left hand end of the machine as viewed in Fig. I and has at its upper end a second short arm 105 which connected by links 107 108to the finger 82. The links 1 07108' are con-- nected by an adjustable block 109 by which the length of the throw 0? the finger 82 may be regulated.

The can dies 25 set in the slides 22 'are operated by levers 140. These levers'are disposed on each side of the machine and have extended tops 14] grooved to receive a spherical roller 142 set 'ona stud through the tail of each slide 22. I The lever is pivoted at 143. Extend ing from the pivot 143 is a cam lever 140 terminating in a roller 144 which travels in the cam groove 145 ot a cam .146. This cam is mounted on the shaft 10. Pivotedin Fixed bracket at 147, is a link 147 which connected its opposite end to a yoke 148.

The cap positioned- An elbow 149 extends from each of the levers 140 terminating in a foot 149. Thistoot has a rounded bearing which rests on the flattened upper surface of the yoke 148' The yoiie 14-8 is therefore given a vertical re- T he entire capping head set on the crosshead20 as heretofore explained is recipro: cated on the bed 2. The levers 140 are stationary but this movement is perniittedeby the loi'igitudinal slotting of the upper ends or the levers 140 which permits the travel oi the rollers 1425 This is necessary as the opening and closing or the can dies 25 takes place during the longitudinal movement of the head as a Whole. The longi- "procation. being held insubstantial vert tudinal travel oi the carriage on the crosshead 20 is effected by a lever pivoted at 161 and suitably linked to the crosshead at 162. The lever is operated by a roll 163 engagingina cam slot 164 in the cam 165.

My machine is provided with anysuitablepower control. InFig. H I have indicated at a power pulley on the shafts and clutch members 171-172 operated by a lever 173 pivoted at its lower end in a bracket 174; Thelever. is operated by a push and pull rod 175, the handle 176 ot whichyis shown at the leftoit IT as being conveniently positioned for the operator of the machine.

During'the motion of the 'crosshead along the machine the cover receiving dies 40 are raised. by the link dies 40 so timed that the dies reach the proper angle just as they come under the end of the rev 1' delivery chute 180.

"Referring particularly to V and V1 it will be seen that "the chute 180 has a bot 18:). Thehead 184 constitutes a lid carrier and has a finger 184 which aids in holding and positioning the coveror top T. l

The lid carrier 1.84 is dctachably mounted upon the arm 185 soas to automatically disengage fromsaid arm in the eventjthat a lid should be misplaced in thedie 40 in such a way as'to grip on the lid carrier 184 and not release tlieretroin when the die starts its motion. To this end the lid carrier is sleeved about the free end of the arm 185 and is normally positioned thereon by a The raising of the 1 spring 185 attached thereto and to the arm. whereby when a lid is misplaced the lid carrier will be pulled free of the arm. The machine will thenbe stopped and the lid ca ier replaced by hand before further caps ma as fed. The lid is held on the lid car.- rier 184 by a light blade spring 181 fastened to the block 183 and bearing at its free end against the lid, the lid dies being longitudinally slotted as indicated at 41 to accommodate said spring 181.

The arm 185 is pivoted. at 186 and has at its opposite end a roller 187. This roller 187 adapted for contact with a cam block 188 adjustably mounted in a short arm 190 which is pivoted at 191. to a bracket 192. A spring 19 3 is interposed between this arm and the bracket to normally hold the block away from the roller 187. The arm 190 is connected :1 link 193 to a bell crank level" 194 the short arm of which has a roller 195 working in the cam The return movement of the arm 190 is limited by contact of a stop, projection 190 thereon, with a stopserew 190. The lever 194 is held retracted by a spring 196 to take up wear or lost motion in the cam 15. The normal position of the arm 185 is that shown in Fig. V wherein it is in posit-ion to receive any cap or top coming down the slide 180.

The cam is so timed thatthe arm 185 will be thrust forward just as the top dies 40 come into the position shown in Fig. V.

This forward movement is made possible by mounting the arm 185 and bracket 192 on a slide 200 working in a slideway 201 on a bracket 202 on the vertically adjustable plate 19. This adjustment permits the positioning of the end of the chute 180 at the proper level to accommodate the dies 40 in any position of the vertical adjustment of their pivot in the brackets 26. The arm 185 is held from falling by a spring 285 Fig. XIII thereon engaging in a groove 286 formed in a block 287 fast to the slide 200. To further accommodate this adjustment the conveyor 80 is pivoted at 210 tothe stud on which the upper pulley of the cap or top conveyor 80 is journaled. In any position of adjustment of the chute. 180 therefore, movement of the bell crank lever 194 thrusts forward the slide 200 to the limit of its movement. as determined by the contact of a stop 200 on said slide 200 with a fixed stop 213 on the bracket. The slide 200 pauses at this phase of its travel just long enough for the cap dies 40 to close and grip the cap T, the continued movement of the lever 194 rocking the arm 190 to bring the cam 188 into contact with the roll 187, thereby raising the rear end of the arm 185 and withdrawing the lid carrier 185 from the cap die.

The bell crank 194 then returns, retracting the slide 200, and as the roller 187 comes under the cam 187, the head 184 is again brought up into the position shown in Fig. V whereupon another cover T is released by the stop 82 and dropped down the chute 180 to find its place on the-.headl84.

In order to prevent movement of the crosshead 20 during the motion of gripping the can and the lid in their respective positions, I provide an automatically releasable lock for the cross-head. The crosshead has a cam surface 300 along its under face terminating in a locking recess 301 into which is adapted to engage a study 302 on the free end of a lever 303 pivoted at 304 in a bracket 305 and under spring control as atv 306. The bracket 305 projects from the bed 2 of the machine. Pivoted at 308 to the bracket 305 is a bell crank lever 307 which is adapted to contact with a pin .307" on one of the rockers 140 and has an arm 307, Fig. XILengaged with the lever 303. When the rockers 140 separate the pin 307 allows the spring 306 to swing the bell crank 307 outwardly on its pivot, thereby carrying the arm 307 upwardly and raising the lever 303 so that the roll 302 thereon will drop into the locking recess 301 of the cross .head as said cross head moves to the left in Fig. I. The roll is releasedfrom the recess 301 by the inward or closing movement of the rockers 140 while the cross head is still positioned to the left in Fig. I. In such release the pin 307 contacts the upper arm of the bell crank lever 307 when the rockers 140 swing inwardly and the bell crank is swung inwardly on its pivot, carrying the arm 307 thereof downwardly and thereby rocking the lever 303 downwardly to withdraw the roll 302 from the recess 301.

The cans advancing along the conveyor 31 from left-to right of the machine Fig. I, are separated by the can escapement fingers 400, 420 operated by the cam 401 and associated mechanism detailedin Fig. III, and the caps advancing along the conveyor 80 are separated by the cap escapement fingers 81, 82 operated by the cam 83 and associated mechanism detailed in Fig. IV.

The cap feed is so related to the feed of the cans through the machine that a cap will not be supplied unless its corresponding can is progressing properly through the machine to meet it at the point of cap lodgment, the point C in Fig.1. To this end the lever 100 is interposed in the path of the cans moving along the can way and upon actuation by a can momentarily withdraws the cap release finger 82 from the path of the cap to allow a cap to enter the cap chute 180.

As'the cap slides down the chute 180 it is guided to dropon the head 184 of thecap feed arm 185 which is thrust forward by the cam 15 and lever "194 just as the cap dies 40 swing into the cap receiving position shown in Fig. V.

22 swings the links 55 slightly outwardly on their pivots, the movement being taken up by the springs It also moves the rod 70 outwardly to withdraw the can feed fingers 7 2, 71, 73 thereof from the can way in the continued rearward travel of the crosshead,

the cap die is lifted by the links which swing laterally about their pivots to bring the cap dies 40 into the cap receiving position relative to the cap-teed arm 185' shown in Fig. VI. At the end of the rearward movement of the crosshead the rockers 140 swing inwardly to close the can dies about a can disposed in the position C in Fig. XI. The cap dies 4L0 are simultaneously closed and the can feed rod 7,0 moved inwardly to advance its fingers 72, 71, and '73 between the cans on the canway 30.

The can dies, cap dies and rod then start forward, whereupon the finger 72 picks up a can at the point C and moves it to the point C Fig. X. The can which occupied the point Fig. X, is picked up by the lingers 71, 71 and moved to the point 0 and the can which occupied the point C Fig. X, is moved by the can dies 25 to the point (1*, Fig. X, which point isthe point of lodgment of the cap (see Fig. VII). The capped can which formerly occupied the point Ct. Fig. X, and which was released when the can dies opened and the cross'head started its rearward movement, is picked up by the finger 73 and moved to the point C Fig. X, from which point it is crowded by succeeding cans onto the discharge conveyor 36 in the next operation oi the crosshead, as indicated at C, Fig. XI. The combinative action of these several mechanisms se cures certain and accurate placement of the cap. As shown in Fig. VIII, the capis initially applied to one corner of the can mouth and is progressively and continuously Worked across the can mouth toward the 0p posite corner until snugly seated entirely over the can mouth.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I i

1. In combination, a can passageway, a pair of can dies movable towards and from each other to grip and release a can die posed therebetwcen, a pair of oppositely disposed cap dies mounted independentlyjot' said can dies and movable towards each other to close about and positively clamp a cap therebetween and movable away from each other to open and dischai e said'cap onto a can held between said ca dies, and operative connections between said can dies and said capdies for causing the cap dies to] follo'wthe movement of the can dies.

2. In combination, a can-passageway, a

pair of candies movable towards and from each other to grip and'release a can disposed therebetween, a pairof oppositely disposed cap dies mounted independently of saiddies and slidable towards each other to close about and positively clamp a cap therebetween and slidable away from each other to open and discharge said cap onto a can held betweensaid can dies, and pivoted connections between said can dies and said cap dies for causing the cap diesto follow the movement of the can dies.

3. In combination, a can passageway, a

pair of can dies movable towards and, from each other to posed therebetween, a pair ofopp'ositel'yfdi' posed cap dies i'nounted independentl of said can dies andhaving complemental recess-defining portions effective when the dies positively clamp are closed to encircle and a cap therebetween and effective when the dies are opened to discharge said cap onto a can held between said can dies, and operative connectionsbetween said can dies and said cap diesi'orcausing the'cap dies to follow the movement of the can dies. I

4. In combination, a can passageway, a' pair of can dies mounted for lon itudinal and transverse sliding movement re a'tiv'e' to said way, and a pair of dies pivotally connected to said can dies to follow the movements thereof.

5. In combination, a can passageway, can feed mechanism, a pair of oppositely movable can dies,a pair of oppositely disposed cap dies mounted independently of said can dies and movable towards and'ironi each other and effective when closed to pro vide a recess within which a cap is adapted to be lodged and eii'ect-ive when opened to discharge said cap onto can held by said can dies, and operativeconnections from said can dies to said cap dies andcan feed mechanism for causing the cap dies and can feed mechanism to follow the movement of the can dies.

6. In combination, a can passageway, a

transversely of the can passageway, and a pair of dies and a can feed mechanism operatively connected to said can dies to follow the movements thereof, said cap dies being pivota'lly mounted upon said can dies.

7. In combination, a longitudinally slidable crosshead, aican passageway, a can die mounted on said crosshead 'on'each side to the direction of travel of thecansflneans operatively connected to said dies for effecting said opening and closing movements thereof, and a pail .Qf Cap" dies. pivotally" grip and release can i -v .115 pair of can dies movable longitudinally and.

of said passageway and having anopening and closing movement in a path transverse,

mounted upon said can dies for movement longitudinally and'transversely of the can passageway.- v

8. In combination, a longitudinally slidable crosshead a'can passageway, a can die mounted on said crosshead on each side of saidpassageway and having an opening and closing movement in a path transverse to the direction of travel of the cans, a pair of rockers operatively connected to said dies for elfecting said opening and closing movements thereof during the reciprocation of the crosshead, and a pair of cap dies pivotally mounted upon said can dies for movement longitudinally and transversely of the can passageway.

9. In combination, a can passageway, a crosshead slidable longitudinally relative thereto, a can die mounted on said'crosshead on either side of said passageway and slidable transversely towards and from said passageway, a rocker for sliding each can die transversely, and a drive for said rockers comprising a drive shaft, a cam thereon, and a cam lever operated by said cam and connected with said'rockers.

10.'In combination, a can passageway, a crosshead slidable longitudinally relative there-to, a can die mounted 'on said crosshead on either side of said passageway and slidable transversely towards and from said passageway, a rocker for sliding each can die transversely, a drive for said rockers comprising a drive shaft, a cam thereon, a cam lever operated by said cam, a yoke pivoted to said lever and engaging said rockers, and a connection permitting said rockers yielding movement in a vertical plane.

11. In combination, a can passageway, a crosshead slidable longitudinally relative thereto, a can die mounted on said crosshead on either side of said passageway and slidable transversely towards and from said passage way, a rocker for sliding each can die transversely, a drive for said rockers comprising a drive shaft, a cam thereon, a cam lever operated by said cam and connected with said rockers, and a drive for said crosshead includinga second cam on said drive shaft, and'an operative connection from said second-named cam to said crosshead. 7

12. In combination, a canpassageway, a canfeed mechanism comprising a rod mounted for longitudinal sliding movement relative to said passageway, and for movement towards and from said passageway, and an actuating mechanism for said rod comprising a pair of can dies slidable longitudinally'and transversely.

13. In combination, a can passageway a can feed mechanism comprising a finger rod disposed parallel to said passageway and having longltudin'al and engaging and dis engaging movement relative thereto, and an actuatlng mechanlsm for said rod comprislng a pair of can dies slidable longitu dinally and transversely, rockers for sliding 'sald dies transversely,

and a longitudinally slidable cross head carrying said dies.

1a. In combination, a can passageway, and a can feed mechanism for intermittently advancing the cans along said passageway, comprising a rod mounted in offset relation to said passageway and provided with a can feed finger adapted to be advanced between a pair of adjacent cans on said passageway, and means for moving said rod into and out of effective feeding relation to the cans and for reciprocating said rod. 4

15. In combination, a can passageway, and a can feed mechanism for intermittently advancing the cans along said passageway, comprising a rod mounted in offset relation to said passageway and provided with a can feed finger adapted to .be advanced between a pair of adjacent cans on said passageway, a longitudinally slidable crosshead and means carried by said crosshead and slidable transversely and operatively connected with said rod for moving said rod into and out of effective feeding relation to the cans and for reciprocating said rod.

16. In combination, a can passageway, a can delivery thereto, a cap delivery, apair of can dies movable longitudinally and transversely of the can passageway, a pair of cap dies and a can feed mechanism operatively connected to said can dies to follow the movements thereof and a cap release mechanism controlling the delivery of caps to said cap dies and operated by and in the feed of the cans along said can passageway.

17.- In combination, a can passageway, a can delivery thereto, a cap delivery, a pair of can dies movable relative to the can passageway, a pair of capdies and a can feed mechanism operatively connected to said can dies to follow the movements thereof, and a cap release mechanism controlling the delivery of caps to said cap dies and operated by and in the feed of the cans along said can passageway. r

18. In combination, a longitudinally extending drive shaft, a vertically disposed cam shaft operated therefrom, a crosshead reciprocated from said drive shaft, a pair of can dies mounted on said crosshead, a pair. of rockers driven from said drive shaft and operatively connected with said for opening and closing the same, a can feed mechanism, and a pair of cap dies mounted to follow the movements of said can dies, a cap feed mechanism, a cap separating mechanism including a cap release finger oper ated by the movement of the cans, and a can separating mechanism operated by said vertically disposed shaft.

19. In combination, areciprocating crossdies head, a drive shaft therefor, a pair of can cap feed mechanism, a cap separating mech anism including a cap release finger operated by the movement of the cans and a pair of cap dies operatively connected togsaid can dies.

20. In combination, a longitudinally extending drive shaft, a vertically disposed cam shaft operated therefrom, a crosshead reciprocated from said drive shaft, a pair of can dies mounted on said crosshead, a can feed mechanism, a cap feed mechanism, a cap separating mechanism including a cap release linger operated by the movement of the cans, a can separating mechanism operated by said vertically disposed cam shaft, and a pair of cap dies operatively connected With said can dies.

21. .In combination, a can passageway, a cap delivery, a cap separating mechanism comprising a check linger and a release finger adapted to be entered into and Withdrawn from the path of the caps, an act-uating mechanism for said cap check finger including a lever, and an operative connection from said lever to one of said fingers, and a can actu for said cap re;

ated operating connection lease finger comprising a lever disposed in the path of to said cap release finger.

22. In combination, acan passageway, a can delivery, a can separating mechanism,

a cap delivery, a pair of cap separating fingers, a cam shaft, an operative connection from said shaft to one of said fingers, a can operated connection to the other of. said lingers, and an operative connection from said cam shaft to said can separating mech anism. 1

23. In combination, a can passageway, a can delivery thereto, and a can separating mechanism comprising a pair of spaced fingers adapted to be alternately entered into and Withdrawn from the path of the cans, and an actuating mechanism therefor com prising a cam shaft, a cam thereon, a lever actuated by said cam, and a system of linlfrom said lever to said fingers, including a roclrer pivoted between its ends and an inter posed spring.

24. In combination, a cap chute, a cap feed arm pivotallv and slidably mounted relative thereto, means'to slide said arm, and means actuated by said first-named means effective during the travel of the arm to rock saidarni on its pivot.

25. In combination, a cap chute, a-cap feed arm pivotally and slidablv mounted relative thereto, means to slide said arm, and a cam armcarried by said slide, a

ciprocable erosshead, 2am shaft, a cam thereon, a cam the cans for actuation thereby," and an operative connection from said lever block actuated by said first-named means effective during the travel of the arm to rock, said arm onits pivot.

26.'In combination, a cap chute, a slide mounted adjacent thereto, a pivoted cap teed cam block for rockin said arm on its pivot, a spring noru'iall holding said blocl: away from said arm, a cam shaft and a cam thereon, for actuating said slide and means connected to said cam block and to. said slide to ad vance said slideand to cause said cam blOCh. to rock said feed arm upon its pivot.

2?. In combination, a cap chute, a cap feed arm movably mounted relative to said chute, and a cap carrier detacliably mounted upon said armfor automatic disengagement; therefroin'in the event of niisplacement of I a cap.

28. In combination, a cap chute, a cap feed arm movably mounted relative to said chute, cap carrier sleeved about the free end of said arm for automatic disengagement therefrom in the event of misplacement of a cap, andv a spring interposed between said arm and said cap carrier.

29. In combination, a longitudinally rea pair of can dies carried thereby and slidable transversely of the crosshead in their opening and closing movements, pair of pivoted rockers for opening and closing said dies, and an automatic loci: for said crossliead applied and removediin the opening ,and closing movements of the dies, and comprising aspring ,tensioned arm adapted for locking engage ment with the crosshead, and a bell crank lever operated by said rockers in their open ing and closing movements and adapted to actuate said locking arm.

30. In combination, a. longitudinally reciprocable crosshead, a pair o fcan dies car ried thereby and slidable transversely ofthe crosshead in their openingand closing 111OVB- ments, and an automatic lock for said c *osshead applied and removed in the opening and closing movements of the dies, and com-- prising a spring tensioned arm adapted for locking engagement With the crosshead, and a bell crank lever operated by said, dies in their opening and closing movements and adapted toactuatesaidlocking arm,.

3]; In combination, a cap chute, a cap feed arm movably mounted relative thereto, a cap carrier mounted upon said arm and a connection between said cap carrier and said cap feed arm' permitting said carrier to automatically detach itself bodily from said arm in the event of misplacement of a cap.

32. In combination, a cap chute, a ca feed arm movably mounted relative thereto,

and a cap carrier shaped to carry thereon a surniounting cap and a connection between said cap carrier and said cap feed arm permitting saldcarrler to automatically bodily detach itself from said arm in the event of misplacement of cap.

38. In combination, a cap chute, a cap teed arm 'movably mounted relative thereto,

a cap carrier mounted upon said arm and a connection between said cap carrier and said cap feed arm permitting said carrier to automatically detach itself bodily from said arm Without interruption of the feeding movement oi" said arm in the event of misplacement of a cap.

34. In combination, a cap chute, a cap teed arm pivot-ally and slid-ably mounted relative thereto, means to slide said arm, means effective to the end of the sliding traveler said arm to rock said arm on its pivot, and a cap carrier mounted upon said arm and automatically bodily detachable tli-ere't'rcni without interruption of the feeding movement of said arm in the event of 'splacei ent of a cap.

In combination, a can passageway, a pair of can dies movable towards'and away from each other to grip and release a can disposed therebetween, a pair of cap dies I operatively connected with said can dies to follow the opening and closing movements thereof whereby to close about and positively clamp cap therebetween upon the closing movement thereof and to open and discharge said cap onto a can held between said can dies upon the opening movementhereof and having an independent phase of movement relative to said can dies effective to progressively and continuously work the cap across the can mouth from one side to the other until the cap is snugly seated entirely over said mouth.

36. In combination a can passageway, a

pair of can dies slidable towards and away from each otherto grip and release a can disposed therebetween, a pair of sli'dably and pivotally mounted cap dies operatively connected with said candies to follow the opening and closing movements thereof whereby to close about and positively clamp a cap therebet-ween upon the closing movement thereof and to open and discharge said cap onto a can held between said can dies upon the opening movement thereof, the pivotal connections for said cap dies permitting said cap dies an independent phase of movement arcually relative to said can dies effective to progressively and continuously work the cap across the can mouth from one side to the other until the cap is snugly seated entirely oversaid mouth.

3?. In combination, a can passageway, a cap delivery, a cap release finger adapted to be entered into and withdrawn from the path of the caps, a lever disposed in the path of the cans for actuation thereby, and an operative connection between said lever and said finger.

dies.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL B. FIELD.

I Witnesses:

GEORGE A. RonINsoN, WILLIAM A. JorLIN. I H sf; 

